Free Republic

People across the nation are mourning the death of Mario Cuomo, the passionate Italian-American Catholic who served as the governor of New York from 1983-1994. Cuomo’s political career was deeply formed by his Catholic faith. During his famous 1984 speech at the University of Notre Dame, he said as much: “The Catholic Church is my spiritual home. My heart is there, and my hope.” But Cuomo’s relationship with the Church in the United States, particularly its bishops, was at times strained, especially over the issue of legalized abortion. At Notre Dame and elsewhere, Cuomo maintained that -SNIP-

The Fremont Unified school board held off on adopting "Your Health Today" after parents complained that its presentation of frank sexual topics was unfit for teaching ninth-grade students. The majority of the nearly 60 speakers said they opposed using "Your Health Today" and objected to chapters that discuss prostitution, bondage, pornography and other frank sexual education topics. About two-thirds of the audience waved yellow signs that read, "Remove College Textbook." Others who favor adopting the new textbook waved green signs that read, "I support comprehensive sex education." The controversy started June 25, when Fremont school board members voted 3-2 to...

An Obamacare event in Arkansas offered a prize for those who attended: Free condoms. The Obamacare event took place at the University of Central Arkansas last weekend. It was hosted by a group called the Living Affected Corporation, which apparently has received a grant from the federal government to educate the public about Obamacare. The event organizer spilled out a bag of condoms -- as a couple whoops and hollers could be heard from the small crowd. Then she says, "Ok, if anyone wants a paper application," but she interrupts herself to pickup condoms that had fallen on the floor....

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, November 7, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The New Zealand Family Planning Association is trying to save face after public backlash over the Association’s plan to release a sexuality resource for children aged 5 to 8 later this month. The resource has drawn attention to the fact that “sexuality” is already included right through each year level of the health curriculum. Even in Catholic schools “sexuality” education is compulsory, although parents do have the right to be informed and are given the option of removing their children from these classes. The Ministry of Education’s 2002 document “Sexuality Education –...

Nine male students were suspended from Bell Middle School for allegedly masturbating while looking at pornography on their cell phones during English class. Students were suspended during the month of May, the district confirmed in an e-mail to NBC San Diego. But the email also states, the district is "prohibited from commenting on confidential student or personnel matters." The teacher, Ed Johnson, is reportedly under fire because he did not respond to students who told him about the behavior while it was allegedly happening – only saying he would give students referrals if he caught them – then went on...

< LifeSiteNews.com Life, Family and Culture News Catholic priest who finances abortions remains unpunished by bishop by Matthew Cullinan Hoffman Fri Mar 11 8:47 PM EST BARCELONA, March 11, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - For three years, the Cardinal Archbishop of Barcelona has refused to act against a priest in his diocese who boasts openly of having financed abortions. Now, the priest is a subject of a new book in Catalonian, “Fr. Manel: Closer to earth than to heaven”, which describes the ever-growing popularity of his charitable work with Spanish celebrities.  In addition to repeating his claim of having paid for abortions,...

In the seven weeks since Notre Dame announced President Barack Obama as its 2009 Commencement speaker, the campus has seen prayer gatherings, academic debates, banner-flying planes and bloodied baby dolls in strollers. Now, with a week and a half to go until Obama lands in South Bend to address the graduating class, another group has arrived in town to demand Notre Dame be stripped of its Catholic identity.It's really been quite the month and a half. I spent the entire day stuck in the library studying for exams, but luckily the South Bend Tribune was on the scene Tuesday to...

TORONTO, November 24, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – New research has found that more genetic differences exist among people than previous research had indicated. In 2000 the international team of scientists working on the Human Genome project said that there was only a miniscule percentage of difference between people. At about the same time, genetic screening was introduced as a common feature of prenatal care and as part of artificial procreation in IVF facilities. The new research shows, however, that this screening is not as accurate as previously thought. In the new study, 270 volunteers from different countries were tested and the...